On a State of a Game

As a life-long Reds fan, I recall the Opening Days of my youth with Deron Johnson, Vada Pinson, Johnny Edwards, Bob Purkey, and many more. I recall the season’s start as the time of positive optimism of hopes of a pennant.

These were also the days when playing catch and pickup games were common. The days of throwing the ball against the wall to practice fielding. The days of many neighborhood whiffle ball games. The days when youth used local baseball fields while dreaming to playing in the majors.

Today’s youth use the fields less. Playing catch or having neighborhood games are less common. The days of American youth yearning for the major leagues is a mere flickering hope.

Moreover, there’s Major League Baseball (MLB) – an affiliation of owners whose personal greed is more important than the collective welfare – but it has always been that way. However, the game no long captures the imagination of our youth. The game no longer serves as the heartbeat of Americans everywhere.

The season is young and the race is a marathon. Does anyone really think that fans in Pittsburgh, Kansas City, and San Diego are as hopeful as fifty year ago? As Cincinnati fans look to a better year, is there guarded optimism warranted? Is there any doubt that the AL pennant travels through the high-budget Yankees and Red Sox?

Not only is there the off-season free agent spending spree but a few, but then there is the annual trading deadline shuffle between from the have-nots to the haves. Hmm …. I wonder when the NFL will adopt the MLB business model?

On Opinions in the Shorts: Vol. 54

On the Approaching March Madness
The regular college basketball season is over, so now it’s the conference tournaments for the conference payday – followed by the announcement of the 65-team tournament.

There is no doubt that some teams will receive an invitation to the dance regardless how they do in the conference tourney. Discussions will follow about the teams that the committee passed over and the teams that did not deserve to go. Here is my take long before the announcement. Unless they win the conference tournament, N-O to any team without more conference wins than conference losses.

On the Olympics
With television coverage during the Olympics is so dominant, we get accustom to having the games in our daily routine – and then – suddenly, even with notice – they are gone. Every Olympics brings us touchy stories, and none tugged at the heart more than the Georgia luger and the Canadian figure skater. Every Olympics provides great performances and severe letdowns. Every Olympics allows us to learn about cultures and geography … and the Vancouver games provided these too.

On the other hand, television coverage seems too canned – too edited to fit primetime viewership for commercials. We missed the Alpine skiers measured success by simply making it down the hill without an accident. We only saw less than 10 skiers in a race – all because of time.

One more thing – there are many great tushes among the female skiers.

On Spring Training
This is the time of year that our interest in baseball increases our attention. On the other hand, I’m not sure about the Cincinnati Reds training in Arizona because it just does not seem right. Then again, just another reinforcement that it is all about the money.

On Capitol Hill Occupants
Americans are a diverse people, both in heritage and in personality. In other words, there are all kinds of us. On the other hand, I hold a certain level of expectation in those we elect and the people who elect them. Nonetheless, I don’t believe we need people like Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga) or Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY). Let’s not forget Rep. Charlie Rangles (D-NY) – better yet, toss in the entire House Ethics Committee for its outstanding example of the fox watching the henhouse and the ethical politician is either an oxymoron or they simply hold themselves at a lower standard than the public expects.

On a Transitioning Sports Seasons Funny

Cincinnati is scheduled to get another dose of winter reality today, so it’s a good time to think ahead.

The Super Bowl marks football season’s end. While full-time football fanatics are concentrating on the upcoming free agent signings and the spring draft, others are transitioning to baseball because spring training is about to begin.

While many of us simply transition from season to season, thus sport to sport, others struggle or fill their void with something else. Nonetheless, this George Carlin bit is a classic, thus perfect for your Monday Morning Entertainment!

On Opinions in the Shorts: Vol. 51

I usually post OITS on Fridays, but since tomorrow is an issue for me, it is a day early.

On Athletes Orally Committing
National Letter of Intent signing period for college football started yesterday. Of course, it is preceded by high school players giving nonbinding oral commitments. Being one believing that being true to your word carries some importance, I generally have an issue with players backing out on their word. For instance, a high school player in the Cincinnati area orally committed to three different schools the last 6 months. Sorry, that’s not the type of character I would want on my team.

On Public Stadium Financing
Too many professional sports teams have placed community’s feet to the fire with their build me a new stadium or we will leave approach. Although I’m a big sports fan, I was against Cincinnati’s stadium issues all not that long ago. Now, for a variety of reasons, the county’s stadium fund is having financial troubles. Hey hey … here comes the Bengals organization to save the day by offering millions! But for what in exchange? How about shortening the lease by 10 years or so?!!! Again, I stand by my original point.

On This Week
We record This Week (ABC’s Sunday morning show) because we like the format and the general respectful nature of discussions. Who made the bonehead decision to have FOX News President Roger Ailes and Arianna Huffington together on the round table?

On School Buses
There’s no question that school buses foul up traffic. There’s no question that I dislike school buses. Nonetheless, I just cannot convince myself to agree with a student boarding a bus at 6:15 am.

On Toyota
I will give Toyota credit – now that is one PR disaster! In their race to beat GM, they seemed to morph into the Detroit giant. Meanwhile, I feel for the sales staff whose salary is probably based on commission.

On 747 Tidbit
Although I haven’t been in one, the Boeing 747 is a big plane. Boeing originally designed it as a military transport aircraft in the 1960s. They did not win the contract (Lockhead did), so Boeing converted the design into a commercial airliner. I think they did ok on that investment.

On a New Link
I welcome Confessions of a Lazy Scribe to WordPress. Previously known as the Coach Potato at another location, I encourage readers to visit Brad’s new site.

To kickoff Super Bowl weekend, here’s a great Jay Leno JayWalk segment for another lively city (Las Vegas).

On My Sports Decade: 2000-2009

The close of 2009 marks the end of the 21st century’s first decade. Instead of developing a debatable list of the decade’s top sports stories, here’s my personal top sporting stories for 2000-2009. The non-prioritized list looks at broad events in my life as a sports fan.

Reds Achieve Mediocrity
As a long-time Reds fan, I’m troubled by the floundering franchise. After starting the decade with a 2nd place divisional finish, the Reds ended the decade with 9-straight losing seasons. Ownership by a local philanthropic legend actually helped the organization as a whole after Marge’s penny-pinching charade, but MLB results were lacking. Although new ownership is local, they are still asking fans to buy more tickets so they can raise payroll. Sorry guys, that strategy doesn’t work

Bengals Rise to Respectability
Marvin Lewis began as coach in 2003 vowing to make a change. After a pathetic 1991-2002 run, the Bengals are at least respectable – look at the season records yourself. After all, I really believe that most fans will hang their hope on competitiveness … a chance at winning – and the Lewis era has achieved that. By the way, the 2005 edition was an awesome offense.

The Rise and Fall in Clifton
Clifton is the part of town containing the University of Cincinnati. Basketball has long been king of the hill, and the Bob Huggins era brought success and excitement. With one big swoop, he was gone, the team dismantled, and forced to start over. Coincidently, the rise of UC football began – and who would have ever imagined the heights they’ve reached. It may be short lived (yet it may not be), nonetheless, it has been exciting run for this season ticket holder!

Continued XU Success
Although Xavier and UC are located only miles apart, in some ways, they are on opposite sides of the world. Nonetheless, their basketball rivalry is intense and exciting. Skip Presser coached the XU to start the decade, yet Thad Mata (Ohio State) and Sean Miller (Arizona) followed. Those 10 years produced 8 NCAA bids, including 2 Elite 8s and a Sweet 16. Wow – good luck Coach Mack.

The Urban Legend Begins
Urban Meyer’s first head coaching job was at my alma mater – Bowling Green. His first year (2001) produced the biggest turnaround that year (from 2-9 to 9-3). His fast-paced style changed the way MAC schools play football. Although he left for Utah after two seasons, my wife and I traveled to Purdue and witnessed the 2003 Falcons score late in the game to beat the Boilermakers – and to think that two weeks later BG had the Buckeyes on the ropes late in the game.

Tiger’s Dominance
Current news aside, Tiger Woods has (without question) risen golf’s popularity. His competiveness and success is unbelievable. What a treat it was for me to attend 2 days of the 2007 Bridgestone Invitational. Yes, he won that one too.

On Cincinnati HS Sports
The Cincinnati parochial high schools are noted for their successful sports teams. Football, basketball (boys and girls), and volleyball lead the way. Teams as St. Xavier, Elder, and Moeller get nation attention and college recruiters flock to the area, yet it was a smaller school (Roger Bacon) that beat LeBron James’ team in the state finals of his junior year.

On Bud Baseball
Despite Bud Selig, baseball continues to be popular. Despite its goofy economic structure, attendance continues to rise. Despite baseball’s double standards, Bud Selig continues to prohibit the Reds from retiring Pete Rose’s number.

On the Olympics
The decade gave us 5 Olympics games (Sydney, Salt Lake City, Athens, Turin, and Bejing) and countless number of heroes and moments. Enough said.